276 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



SECTION VIII. 



TREATMENT OF WATER. 



Beautiful effects of tliis element in nature. In what cases it is desirable to attempt the forma- 

 tion of artificial pieces of water. Regular forms unpleasing. Directions for the formation 

 of ponds or lakes in the irregular manner. Study of natural lakes. Islands. Planting the 

 margin. Treatment of natural brooks and rivulets. Cascades and waterfalls. Legitimate 

 sphere of the art in this department. 



The dale 



With Woods o'erliung, and shagg'd with mossy rocks, 

 Whence on each hand the gushing waters play, 

 And down the rough cascade white-dashing fail, 

 Or sleam in lengthened vista through (he trees. 



Thompson. 





H E delightful and captivating effects of 

 water in landscapes of every description, 

 are universally known and admitted! The 

 boundless sea, the broad full- river, the dashing noisy brook, 

 and the limpid meandering rivulet, are all possessed of their 

 peculiar charms ; and when combined with scenes otherwise 

 finely disposed and well wooded, they add a hundred fold to 

 their beauty. The soft and trembling shadows of the sur- 

 rounding trees and hills, as they fall upon a placid sheet of 

 water, and the brilliant light which the crystal surface reflects 

 in pure sunshine, mirroring too, at times in its resplendent 

 bosom, all the cerulean depth and snowy whiteness of the 



